2 Best Restaurants in The Panhandle, Florida

Although this old-school ice-cream parlor and candy shop serves salads, sandwiches, and other savory dishes, it's best known for its extensive menu of sodas, frappes, and egg creams and its generous brunches featuring classic waffles and omelets, as well as a homemade hash that is deliciously different. The ice-cream choices are delectable, and it's hard to take your eyes off the candy makers as they hand-craft the confections. Lofty also sells jigsaw puzzles, toys, and board games, which customers have been known to play while dining.

The Emerald Coast's worst-kept secret is the Donut Hole. Lines of customers appear at 6 am for scrumptious baked goods (which tend to sell out) to go. Breakfast, which is served all day, is supplemented by diner foods later on. There are two other Donut Hole locations: the original on Highway 98 in Destin and one inland in Santa Rosa Beach.